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- The Lightning are -184 favorites over the Canadiens in Game 2 of their 1st Round series
- Montreal stole Game 1 with a 4-3 OT victory, despite recording only 19 shots
- See below for my favorite Game 2 Canadiens vs Lightning prediction, plus the latest odds and expert pick
The Canadiens vs Lightning 1st Round battle continues tonight, with Tampa Bay looking to bounce back from their defeat in the series opener. Online sportsbooks certainly like their chances, pegging the Lightning as big favorites in the latest NHL odds.
Puck drop for Game 2 of this Eastern Conference series is scheduled for 7 pm ET from Benchmark International Arena, in Tampa, FL. ESPN 2 will handle broadcast duties across America, while Sportsnet will carry the game for Canadian viewers.
Here is my favorite Game 2 Canadiens vs Lightning prediction, plus the latest odds and expert pick.
Game 2 Canadiens vs Lightning Prediction
My favorite bet tonight is under 2.5 goals for the Habs. Despite a very poor showing in Game 1, I have to believe Andrei Vasilevskiy will bounce back tonight, and showcase why Tampa Bay is such a popular Stanley Cup odds bet. Vasilevskiy yielded 4 goals on only 19 shots in Sunday’s 4-3 OT defeat, posting a save percentage below .800 for the first time all season.
The Big Cat is widely considered the best goaltender in hockey, with the most postseason victories of any netminder in this year’s NHL Playoff Bracket. Montreal did the bulk of their damage on the powerplay, scoring three times, all by Juraj Slafovsky, but don’t expect that kind of efficiency again from Montreal tonight with the man advantage.
Tampa Bay was one of the best penalty killing teams in the league during the regular season, and they had a ton of practice after leading the NHL in penalty minutes. The Bolts killed off 83% of opponent PP’s, yielding just a 12% shooting percentage to enemy snipers. In Game 1, the Habs scored three times on 9 powerplay shots (33.3%), and we simply have to bank on regression in Game 2.
Apart from their prowess with the man advantage, Montreal did little else to generate offense. They produced only 9 shots on goal all game at even strength, while the line of Slafovsky, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield accounted for just one of those attempts during 5-on-5 play. The Habs will need to prove they can do damage at even strength before I can consider backing them, a feat that’s usually easier said than done against Tampa Bay.
The Lightning ranked third in expected goals allowed this season, while yielding the fewest high danger scoring chances at even strength. I bet we see a bigger commitment to defense from Jon Cooper’s boys, and a better showing from Vasilevskiy, keeping the Habs under 2.5 goals in Game 2.
Game 2 Canadiens vs Lightning Odds
Odds as of April 21. Claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The best place to bet under 2.5 goals at the time of writing is DraftKings, who are offering the line at -115 odds. Tampa Bay is currently a -184 moneyline favorite, with Montreal coming back as +160 underdogs.
Total-wise, the over/under varies from 5.5 to 6, so make sure you have access to multiple betting sites so you can grab the best number.
Game 2 Canadiens vs Lightning Expert Pick
- Jake Guentzel 1+ Assist (+120 at Bet365)
Moving over to the NHL props market, where I’m once again betting Jake Guentzel, this time in the assists department. Guentzel produced 3 assists in Game 1, as he and his linemates combined to generate 11 scoring chances, which was by far the most of any trio from either team.
Guentzel was second this season in assists among Lightning forwards, and is one of the key contributors on the Bolts powerplay, increasing his chances for success in this market. He averages 1.15 points per game on home ice, with 8 helpers in his last eight games overall.
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